Has there ever been a farming simulator game as beloved as Stardew Valley? With the 1.6 update, more and more players are returning to ConcernedApe's masterpiece, eager to start anew. But why stop at the new update for things to do? We've rounded up some of the best Stardew Valley mods you can get, so let's dive into our list of favorites and what makes them stand out.
From handy quality-of-life improvements that show the locations of your favourite villagers on the map to huge content expansions, the best Stardew Valley mods always have something unique to offer that isn’t already available in the base game.
With that said, check out this list of the best Stardew Valley mods for PC.
Stardew Valley - Best Mods (2024)
NPC Map Locations
With a total of 46 different NPCs in Stardew Valley, it's no surprise that locating them can be incredibly difficult. Whether because they don't come out of their room on a certain day, or what have you, sometimes you can waste a whole day running from place to place in your efforts to find them.
What's even more frustrating is that, depending on the changing seasons, their routine may well alter to reflect the weather. It's annoying, right?
Well, fret not. Now, you don't have to pull your hair out any longer, thanks to the NPC Map Location mod. This mod allows you to check the map and find exactly where the character is at that time.
Get the NPC Map Locations mod here.
Movement Speed
As cutesy as Stardew Valley's walking speed and animation are, they don't change the fact that it's super slow in the early game. What's worse, is you only have a limited amount of time each day, and time sure goes fast in Pelican Town.
This slow trek can improve later on with various foods and drinks, as well as the purchase of a horse and stable, but why wait? With the Movement Speed mod, you can get around the map a lot faster than before and decrease the charging time of your hoe and watering can.
Get the Movement Speed mod here.
click to enlarge
+ 2Stardew Valley Expanded
For some players, there can be something described as 'too much of a good thing'. If you believe that, then this mod isn't for you. In fact, Stardew Valley Expanded should only be downloaded if you've felt that you've done everything that's been on offer and still crave more.
That's right, with Stardew Valley Expanded, you can have even more Pelican Town goodness with the addition of 27 new NPCs, 50 locations, 260 character events, 27 fish, reimagined vanilla areas, and a whole lot more.
Get the Stardew Valley Expanded mod here.
Save Anywhere
If you've ever sat down to chill and play Stardew, only for something else to come up in the middle of your gaming session, then you're not alone. It's even worse in Stardew Valley, because the only way you can save is if you head to your bed.
Seems simple enough, but going to sleep will also progress you into the next day. So if you're halfway through your day in-game, this can be a little problematic and a virtual waste of your time. But with this mod, you no longer have to worry, as you can save anywhere, any time.
Get the Save Anywhere mod here.
Look Up Anything
Stardew Valley is a cozy game that doesn't demand too much from you, but it has plenty of side quests and activities that require the player to go check something out themselves. For example, whether the local blacksmith is open at 5pm (spoiler: he isn't) or whether you've put water in your animal's bowl today.
Look Up Anything is an absolute godsend for this kind of thing. By simply hitting the F1 key, you can look up all relevant information about anything in-game. For example, you can do it with your animals to find out if they are cold, your relationship with them, their sale price, and even what sort of goods they are going to produce. Hover over crops to find out how long until they can be harvested, and so much more!
Get the Look Up Anything mod here.
click to enlarge + 2Enemy Health Bars
As you go further down into the mines, enemy combatants can become more difficult to deal with. If you're on low health, you may start to wonder if sticking around and fighting is even worth it.
Thankfully, this mod will be able to tell you that pretty quickly. By doing exactly what it says on the tin: giving enemies health bars, you can now visibly see whether it's worth trying to kill an enemy while they're on low health.
Get the Enemy Health Bars mod here.
So there you have it—the list of the very best Stardew Valley mods that make it (somehow) even more enjoyable to play.
But we've got loads more mods that add a touch more chaos to the serenity of Pelican Town, like adding Pokémon or even marrying Morris.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Stardew Valley page.